The current Clio is a very impressive car. Attractive from any angle and easily peels off the chic labels always associated with cars.
Nicole, famous for her early ’90s ads, is now a middle-aged woman but will still testify to her chicness.
I owned a 131reg 4th generation model for 8 years. I changed to an automatic car to make it easier for my daughter to pass the exam. My daughter passed the exam properly.
That’s my number one tip for learners. Choosing an automatic allows you to focus on roadcraft initially, which will greatly improve your confidence.
Anyway, with the constant transition to electric cars, where will we get manual cars in a few years? Let’s take a look. Unfortunately, we didn’t buy the automatic Clio. It’s a shame because we all loved the Clio.
This tested model is a facelift version of the fifth generation launched in 2019, so based on past formats, this is a medieval facelift.
In the case of Clio, that’s the difficult part. The car does not require many adjustments and the changes are not fundamental.
The front has slimmer lights and a new checkerboard grille with flashier daytime running lights, 12 on each side, making it look like a scaled-down version of the Hyundai Tucson’s exterior.
At the rear, the rear lights now feature a sprinkling of translucent plastic, breaking up the bright red look of the earlier model, but the high boot lip remains, always being the hatchback’s point dropper.
The sides are virtually identical. The interior hasn’t changed much either, with a new illuminated floating center console and flashier driver’s display and center display.
There wasn’t much to tinker with because there wasn’t much to tinker with.
The fine-tuned differences are noticeable, so if you have to choose between the new model and the old one, you’ll immediately be drawn to the new model. So the designers did a great job.
The Clio has always been hugely popular both at home and abroad and was the first car to win European Car of the Year twice, although it has yet to claim Irish Car of the Year honors.
It has the feel of a big car, so the front passenger always feels like they’re in a big car. Sitting in the back seat, you can tell it’s a small car because the legroom isn’t as spacious as you’d expect.
To provide enough legroom for the rear seats, the front seats must be moved slightly forward.
The chic design comes at a bit of a cost as it doesn’t offer much visibility for rear seat passengers.
The 340-litre boot remains unchanged and is reasonable for the car’s size. I had to carry a couple of scrap sheets of Perspex with me, but folding the back seat gave me plenty of space and I managed it without any difficulty. It’s amazing how buyers value trunk space and focus on buying a trunk in case it is unlikely to actually be filled.
If you just lower the seats, you’ll realize you don’t need such a big trunk after all. Renault discontinued the introduction of the Clio His Estate to Ireland when the fourth generation model was launched. This also looked a little bad so I always thought it was a mistake. Renault has now completely discontinued production of the Clio Estate.
I had a 145hp gas/electric hybrid model in a beautiful iron blue color. Yes, it produces 145 horsepower from its 1,598cc gasoline engine. This combination provides a range of up to 880km at 4.2 l/100km.
Renault also says the car typically runs on electricity 80% of the time in city driving. My own return fuel economy was 5.6 liters per 100km, which was heavy as I was simply shocked by the 145hp and how powerful it was.
The power delivery is definitely immediately helped by the extra power, and this responsiveness contributes greatly to the driving pleasure.
The automatic gearbox is very responsive and on the winding roads around where I live I didn’t have to drop into lower gears too often to maintain the power delivery my right foot demanded.
The steering was firm and there was none of the body roll or dive under braking, all of which can let the car down at speed.
The fun factor of this Clio is very high. I think quieter tires would have been nice to reduce road noise a bit more, but I have to say it’s not annoying enough.
Renault touted its reputation for safety a few years ago, and while that reputation has now waned, that doesn’t mean Renault’s focus on safety has waned. The car is equipped with 17 advanced driver assistance system features, including rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. It’s a lot of good.
What I am concerned about is the price. The entry petrol Evolution trim model costs 24,845 euros. The list price for my Esprit Alpine Hybrid model is 34,045 euros.
That’s all the moolah daddy has to find for his beloved Nicole. Also, this car has always been in the realm of attractive crossovers, and for comparison, you can get two trim versions of the ultra-popular Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid for that money.
This is difficult because the Yaris Cross has a larger trunk, which is 33 mm narrower and also has larger dimensions.
But chic always comes at a price, and the Clio is unparalleled in that comparison. It’s clear that our love of crossovers has led to a decline in small cars, and while the Clio is by no means small, I think that’s a shame.
I don’t think you’ll get the same fun with the Yaris Cross, but the Yaris Cross should always be taken into account when making a purchase. Can you put a price on chic? Renault has it and it’s a bit juicy, so it’ll be interesting to see how the ever-popular Clio does with sales this year.
This could revive Renault’s sales, which have fallen outside the top 10 in Ireland since 2020, and paradoxically lead to the first appearance of Dacia (a Renault-owned company) in 2023.
Perhaps the parents could learn a thing or two about prices from the siblings and help the whole Nicole family, who are struggling to afford a house, buy a chic car.